Types of GSM handover

Within the GSM system there are four types of handover that can be performed for
GSM only systems:
Intra-BTS handover: This form of GSM handover occurs if it is required to
change the frequency or slot being used by a mobile because of interference, or
other reasons. In this form of GSM handover, the mobile remains attached to the
same base station transceiver, but changes the channel or slot.
Inter-BTS Intra BSC handover: This for of GSM handover or GSM handoff occu
rs when the mobile moves out of the coverage area of one BTS but into another co
ntrolled by the same BSC. In this instance the BSC is able to perform the handov
er and it assigns a new channel and slot to the mobile, before releasing the old
BTS from communicating with the mobile.
Inter-BSC handover: When the mobile moves out of the range of cells contro
lled by one BSC, a more involved form of handover has to be performed, handing o
ver not only from one BTS to another but one BSC to another. For this the handov
er is controlled by the MSC.
Inter-MSC handover: This form of handover occurs when changing between net
works. The two MSCs involved negotiate to control the handover.
Inter-system handover
With the evolution of standards and the migration of GSM to other 2G technologie
s including to 3G UMTS / WCDMA as well as HSPA and then LTE, there is the need t
o handover from one technology to another. Often the 2G GSM coverage will be bet
ter then the others and GSM is often used as the fallback. When handovers of thi
s nature are required, it is considerably more complicated than a straightforwar
d only GSM handover because they require two technically very different systems
to handle the handover.
These handovers may be called intersystem handovers or inter-RAT handovers as th
e handover occurs between different radio access technologies.
The most common form of intersystem handover is between GSM and UMTS / WCDMA. He
re there are two different types:
UMTS / WCDMA to GSM handover: There are two further divisions of this cate
gory of handover:
Blind handover: This form of handover occurs when the base station han
ds off the mobile by passing it the details of the new cell to the mobile withou
t linking to it and setting the timing, etc of the mobile for the new cell. In t
his mode, the network selects what it believes to be the optimum GSM based stati
on. The mobile first locates the broadcast channel of the new cell, gains timing
synchronisation and then carries out non-synchronised intercell handover.
Compressed mode handover: using this form of handover the mobile uses
the gaps I transmission that occur to analyse the reception of local GSM base st
ations using the neighbour list to select suitable candidate base stations. Havi
ng selected a suitable base station the handover takes place, again without any
time synchronisation having occurred.
Handover from GSM to UMTS / WCDMA: This form of handover is supported with
in GSM and a "neighbour list" was established to enable this occur easily. As th
e GSM / 2G network is normally more extensive than the 3G network, this type of
handover does not normally occur when the mobile leaves a coverage area and must
quickly find a new base station to maintain contact. The handover from GSM to U
MTS occurs to provide an improvement in performance and can normally take place
only when the conditions are right. The neighbour list will inform the mobile wh
en this may happen.